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Man blows up dog; says it had ‘the devil in it’

A man told authorities responding to an early morning explosion that he blew up his dog. Photo: clipart.com

STEVENSON, Wash. (AP) — A man told authorities responding to an early morning explosion that he blew up his dog because an ex-girlfriend had “put the devil in it,” a Skamania County sheriff’s deputy said in court papers.

Christopher Dillingham, 45, of Stevenson, also told deputies he was preparing for “the rapture” as he tossed a couch and other household items onto his lawn after the explosion early Sunday, Deputy Jordan Ejde wrote in an affidavit.

Dillingham was held on $500,000 bail after he appeared in court Monday to face two counts of reckless endangerment and one count of possessing an explosive device for an unlawful purpose, the Oregonian reported. It was not known Monday night whether he was represented by a lawyer.

Skamania County Prosecutor Adam Kick said his office was still considering charges in the death of the dog.

Dillingham’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 15.

Deputies responded to reports from neighbors of a loud explosion at 3:45 a.m. Sunday and found the dead dog on the man’s property in a semi-rural area on the outskirts of Stevenson, Undersheriff Dave Cox said.

According to Ejde’s affidavit, Dillingham told deputies he made the device from black powder taken from fireworks. Dillingham owns a fireworks business and operates a stand at Stevenson every Fourth of July, Cox said.

Dillingham reportedly said he distracted the dog with treats as he put the device on the animal, which had been given to him by an ex-girlfriend.

Cox said investigators believe the device was attached to the large dog’s collar. The undersheriff said the dog died instantly.

The Metro bomb squad from Vancouver and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted deputies.